Wood Stoves.... Revisited. Dissapointment.

[Wise Old Owl]

After watching this video of Jason's (Jim Faulk Stove) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pN30_tG7S3A&feature=fvw I built three different versions and have moved to a larger size. Beside the obvious nasty looking pot at the end that needs to be cleaned. And I have tried several woods, different sized pieces and removal of bark, feeding it as shown in the video. I am dissapointed as the wood frequently smokes more than going to coals and the wind is almost a neccessity on the feed point side.



The next version will have a a double A fan somehow, small ring of holes around the top for gasification and a v vent that is lower on the top can. The bottom ring of holes will be a little higher and larger. a seperate metal sheild will seperate the bottom from the ground and a mesh screen will keep the ash from clogging the holes... A true work in progress....If you want to weigh in I am at 6 oz at the moment on this project.

[nox]

Are you going to make a chimney attachment for your tent for winter camping?? HAHA that would be sweet!

[Franco]

Adding a fan (from a PC graphic card* and a 9v batt in my case) does work but it adds weight and complexity. Obviously Sierra owners like It so whatever works for you...
Have a look at this video
http://hikinginfinland.blogspot.com/2009/09/gear-talk-trail-designs-ti-tri-inferno.html
As I already have the Ti Caldera Cone I made my own "Inferno" insert (using an old windscreen and a grate) . It works in a different way to my BushBuddy lookalike but the results are very similar. That is a vigorous burn with little smoke and little residue.
No it does not clean your pots...
Franco
* if you have a computer repair shop handy, they will likely have faulty cards with a working fan. Some of those fans are very small, ideal for this kind of project. The batt I used was the "transistor" 9v batt.

[Wise Old Owl]

Thanks Franco - great find of a video!

[Wise Old Owl]

Are you going to make a chimney attachment for your tent for winter camping?? HAHA that would be sweet!

Uh,, I put the tent away in favor of a hammock - Have you seen the hanging hammock stove? Very Sweet!

[Rambler]

Words of wisdom? Do not use a Caldera Cone for wood burning unless it is the titanium or "Ti" model. Fire will melt the aluminum cone.

Do not bother with a fan. Use a small aluminum tube as found in hobby shops or some hardware stores as a blower. Be careful not to burn lips or inhale smoke. Of course, an easier solution is to use your pot's lid as a fan.
But, I find there is no need to fan the Bushbuddy or the newer Falk Stove as described below.

The stove in your picture does not look anything like the newer model of the stove:
http://trailgear.org/

The juice can actually fits inside the outer can. The fire does not touch the ground. The bottom of the juice can remains in place and a cut-to-size screen or mesh (remember the early alcohol stands?) keeps the fuel up off the bottom to allow for air flow underneath the flames. Another circular screen fits into the can lid slots to act as the pot support. No need to add other support.
To keep the stove from burning the ground, use another screen to raise the whole stove above the ground.
This stove, including a wind screen made of aluminum foil, and bag weighs about 10 oz. It s heavier than a Bushbuddy and taller, but it burns more efficiently (IMO) with little need to ad fuel to get two cups boiling.
You do have to pay a small fee for the plans, but it is not difficult to build. The directions are clear and helped with photos.

[Wise Old Owl]

Thanks Rambler , version three had a screen the next one will have a separator and screen to keep the screen from flipping on shake out.

Thanks for the new website I did not know it had been updated.

On a different matter is going to pay $100 for a bush buddy or bush cooker when we can make our own.. the dollar vs the pound is still oppressive.

[chunter]

I have built a few of these stoves and have decided I like the paint can version's better than the smaller cans. I however didn't like how tall they were and that they didn't nest into my pot. I was able to come up with this design and have been very happy with it.


Charcoal Mode....I also built a new pot rest from the top of the Progesso Soup can.


Gas Mode:


Gas Mode2:


Gas Mode Movie:


[youtube]Swx0R-xxEoA[/youtube][/quote]

[chunter]

I have built a few of these stoves and have decided I like the paint can version's better than the smaller cans. I however didn't like how tall they were and that they didn't nest into my pot. I was able to come up with this design and have been very happy with it.

Compact Stove:


Integrated Hardware Cloth Grate:


Nested in IMUSA 4 Cup Mug:



Full Size Stove Comparison:




[/quote]


Charcoal Mode....I also built a new pot rest from the top of the Progesso Soup can.


Gas Mode:


Gas Mode2:


Gas Mode Movie:


[youtube]Swx0R-xxEoA[/youtube][/quote]

[Wise Old Owl]

The pics didn't show but the urls are still there when I right click for properties I will look them up tommorrow.

[Del Q]

Has anyone used the "Nimblewill" stove?

[zelph]

OldWiseOwl, the smoke in your photo is ignitable. Next time hold a match to it and it will ignite. At first it may want to lift-off and go out but tray it again until it catches.

[chunter]

Has anyone used the "Nimblewill" stove?

Yes I have, I really like it. I made mine smaller so that my narrower pot would sit on it. It is really simple and breaks down to the size of a cd case. You don't need a windscreen and it is easy to add more fuel.

I have a small write up on it here:

http://blackgoatgear.blogspot.com/2009/02/test.html

[Compass]

I agree with Zelph that the smoke in the original picture is wood gas which is a hydrgen gas with wood byproducts(smoke). This is a result of a fire that is starved for oxygen.

I had bad luck with a screen for a bottom grate(restricts air flow to much) but hardware cloth works well(3/8" square holed mesh).

Have fun experimenting.

[DaveJohns]

I think there may have been some confusion in the responses: The stove in the pic is like the hobo stove J Falk makes it wouldnt have any inherent reburn properties. A bushwacker stove (also J Falks) is the one with the inner combustion chamber and outer sleeve. The gasification works pretty well, once it heats up. It is what I use all the time, and I think it was only $25 or so from his website. By the time I had bought the cans and messed up a drillbit or two, I would have spent that much.

[jasonklass]

Wise Old Owl,
Does the smoke appear all the time or only when the stove is about to go out? Are you putting longer pieces in and keeping them vertical or are they shorter pieces piling up horizontally on each other? Is the wood wet?

[Grinder]

I made a simple hobo stove from a 4"Dia by 5 1/2 in. tall can. (I think small coffee) .

It burned twigs easily with a minimum of smoke and boiled two cups in a reasonable period of time. the twigs were finger and thumb thickness and stood on end.. No grate of any kind.

I don't remember details of lighting the fire, but it may have involved a splash of alcohol or maybe a piece of paper.)

This is the style I used
http://www.ehow.com/how_4772750_hobo-stove.html
No bells or whistles. minimum craftsmanship required.

It was sooty and after a few lunches cooked on it, I didn't pursue it further.

I would consider the elaborate designs overkill. If I were going to use one regularly, I might add a tube brazed through the wall for a lung powered blower .

[Reid]

I made that stove except I didn't use the top part, just the bottom. I failed miserably. Kept throwing small sticks in for about 45 mins but could not get a boil. Kinda made me mad.

[drastic_quench]

I spent $20 on a Stratus Trailstove, and I haven't had a problem with it at all.

[Wise Old Owl]

Wise Old Owl,
Does the smoke appear all the time or only when the stove is about to go out? Are you putting longer pieces in and keeping them vertical or are they shorter pieces piling up horizontally on each other? Is the wood wet?

Pretty much all the time it is oxygen starved hence our earlier discussion about moving the holes a little higher and adding a mesh which I did. It rarely gets to flame but easily goes to coals. These are small coffee cans and dog food cans - so size is an issue. They do nest well.